Television is in a state of continual fluctuation these days, but if there’s one particular show that can definitely be credited with obtaining changed the landscape of the medium, it is Lost. For six seasons, and 121 episodes, the island epic was the embodiment of “must-watch TV.” Over the course of its run, Lost popularized serial storytelling for tv and introduced audiences to mythology and characters that are now cemented amongst the most iconic in the medium’s history. However, it is not possible to speak of the show devoid of acknowledging its controversy, mostly its polarizing series finale. The final outing is popular, or infamous based on who you ask, for wrapping up the show with most of its extended-operating concerns unanswered.

It wasn’t just concerns left unresolved, even though. By the time the series came to an finish, a massive cast of characters had been amassed. As such, lots of players didn’t necessarily obtain the most total or satisfying ending. However, one particular of the show’s most preferred characters was amongst this group. Introduced at the get started of Season 3, Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) speedily became one particular of Lost’s most beloved personalities. The intelligent, sturdy, and independent member of the legendary “Others” was as likable as she was mysterious. In lots of approaches, she was the best character. Yet, a tragic exit just two seasons right after her entry ended Juliet’s arc in a way that did not do her character justice.

Lost

Lost follows the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashes on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. The diverse group will have to operate with each other to survive even though uncovering the island’s lots of secrets, which includes a hidden hatch, a smoke monster, and other supernatural components. Known for its complicated narrative structure, the series contains flashbacks and flashforwards that present deeper insights into the characters’ backstories and their lives off the island. As they navigate the island’s dangers and mysteries, the survivors kind bonds and face challenges that test their limits and reveal hidden truths.

Release Date

September 22, 2004

Cast

Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O’Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim

Main Genre

Mystery

Seasons

6

Creator(s)

J.J. Abrams , Damon Lindelof , Jeffrey Lieber

Network

ABC

Showrunner

Damon Lindelof , Carlton Cuse

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Juliet Quickly Became One of ‘Lost’s Best Characters

As the Season 3 opener of Lost, “A Tale of Two Cities,” kicks off, Juliet is the 1st image viewers see. Her strengths and intrigue are created clear ideal away. While hosting a book club, one particular of the attendees puts down her preferred book, saying that Ben (Michael Emerson) wouldn’t approve of it. Juliet is fast to stand up not just for the book, but for what it represents: herintelligence and cost-free will, commodities that are also essential to her character. Even even though she’s a member of the island’s Others, who had been mysterious, horrific, and cult-like, she is fiercely independent and fast to betray the manipulative Ben right after forming a friendship with Jack (Matthew Fox), at some point joining the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815.

But likability is not the only point of interest she brings to the table — she is equally mysterious at 1st. Following her introduction through flashback, she plays a important function in maintaining Jack, Kate (Evangeline Lilly), and Sawyer (Josh Holloway) captive in the Others’ barracks, instantly developing a gray moral location for her character. The execution tends to make her intriguing all through her early episodes, as viewers get to know her. For a show that loves its mysteries, Lost creates a brilliant one particular with Juliet. But, as her layers are peeled away, she becomes a a lot more apparent hero, and just as substantially a victim of Ben’s manipulations as the aforementioned trio. In truth, even though she wasn’t brought to the island through plane crash, her backstory and arrival are each bit as tragic as the original survivors.

Juliet’s Backstory on ‘Lost’ Is Filled With Tragedy

Lost thrives on tragic stories, and amongst the most intense is that of Juliet. Prior to her time on the island, Juliet was a fertility specialist, who grew up close to her sister, Rachel (Robin Weigert). Forced to operate beneath her controlling ex-husband, the roots of Juliet’s strength are created clear all through her flashbacks, as she performs tirelessly on fertility study to support Rachel conceive right after she’d undergone intense cancer remedy. The efforts are a good results, and she is supplied an intriguing job, even though she jokes that her ex-husband, Edmund (Željko Ivanek), would only permit her to take it if he had been hit by a bus. After Juliet’s joke comes to fruition, she’s recruited to the new job beneath the stipulation that she will be returned dwelling in time for the birth of Rachel’s son. But what ought to be a moment of celebratory freedom is practically nothing a lot more than the starting of Ben’s manipulations.

Juliet is not only lied to about the job place but drugged and dragged to the island to operate beneath Ben. It’s one particular of the most complicated backstories to watch, as she went from one particular abusive connection to an additional, the latter of which ripped her away from Rachel, the only particular person who ever showed her any accurate really like all through her life. The devastating revelation strips away the mystery about Juliet and her persona, displaying that she is just as substantially a survivor as the Oceanic characters. It’s joyful to watch her character develop and locate some sense of belonging with the heroes, specially as she develops a deep, loving connection with Sawyer. While it does not justify all the horrible items that occurred to her, it creates a sense of hope that Juliet may well locate happiness but. But, of course, when the time came for Lost’s Season 5 finale, Juliet did not precisely get the pleased ending viewers had been hoping for.

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Juliet Deserved a Better Ending on ‘Lost’

After a largely chaotic fifth season, Juliet finds herself at the center of the finale’s action. A majority of the survivors locate themselves stuck in the 1970s. They learn there’s a way to not only get back to the present, but a process that will stop the events of the series completely: setting off a hydrogen bomb. But items do not go according to program, and Juliet has to sacrifice herself in order to set the bomb. She dies tragically in the early moments of the Season 6 premiere. While the final set of episodes give her a gorgeous reunion with Sawyer in the afterlife, it is tough to really feel entirely happy with the conclusion.

It’s no secret that each and every character lost anything from their previous when they had been stranded on the island, but pretty much absolutely everyone gained anything a lot more more than the course of the show. However, even though Juliet’s backstory is amongst the most tragic, her life had arguably gotten improved just before her time on the island. Rachel was, devoid of doubt, her most significant connection. The two survived a complicated childhood and an even a lot more attempting adult life with each other. And just when they had been each capable to definitely delight in life by each and every other’s side, Juliet’s kidnapping whisked her away.

The argument could be created that Juliet is the only member of the principal cast to shed a lot more than she gained. Sure, she finds really like with Sawyer, but she is by no means provided the possibility to reunite with Rachel, with Ben even utilizing Rachel’s mortality as manipulation to maintain Juliet prisoner at one particular point. While Juliet’s self-sacrifice is one particular of the most heroic moments in the series, it is a rather hollow ending for a character who has been so selfless and has currently provided up so substantially, and in the end requires away from what is supposed to be her eternal happily ever right after in the series finale.

With so lots of characters leaving the island and returning all through the final years of the show, it is tough to accept Juliet’s fate, or ignore the truth that she ought to have been amongst these who had been capable to return dwelling, even if only for a even though. Giving her the possibility to make peace with her former life just before her sacrifice would have been essential to a a lot more fulfilling ending for the character. While Juliet is nonetheless fondly remembered amongst Lost’s all-time finest players, it is tough to make peace with her remedy, even 15 years right after her demise.

Juliet Burke’s Lost legacy is an fascinating one particular. From the time she 1st appeared in the early moments of Season 3, it was clear she was going to be a fan preferred. But, right after the years of hardships and abuse Juliet had to endure, her ending is tough to stomach. One of the handful of characters whose life wasn’t created improved by the island, Juliet’s arc feels the most incomplete, even for a show that thrived on mystery. Still, even right after the show faded into tv history, her legacy as one particular of the series’ most beloved characters holds sturdy these days.

Lost is offered to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

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