From its pilot episode in 2004 to its polarizing finale, "The End," which celebrated the tenth anniversary on May 23rd, 2020, Lost remained a cornerstone in pop culture. It changed the landscape of modern television.
When Lost premiered, millions of Americans still had VHS players, and by the last episode, social media and the Internet had changed the way that audiences enjoy series. The ABC series opens with scenes of the wreckage of Flight 815, which crashed while traveling from Australia to Los Angeles. It follows the survivors' attempts to navigate life on the Island. Details are still emerging about the actors' experiences working on the show.
Lost features a large ensemble cast of different characters, including Party Of Five's Matthew Fox as a tormented doctor, Jack. Evangeline Lily played Kate, a misunderstood criminal. Dominic Monaghan was the burnout rock star, Charlie.
Now, it's time for ABC's Lost: Ranking The Characters From Annoying To Loveable.
19 Ana Lucia Is Downright Annoying
In season one's finale, "Exodus," Lost introduced audiences to the "Tailies", the tail-end survivors stranded on the opposite end of the Island. They were led by stern and brooding Ana Lucia Cortez. She was a Los Angeles police officer, who was played by talented actress, Michelle Rodriguez. The character had two big episodes but this wasn't enough to win fans over.
18 Michael Dawson Sells Out And Kills People
It's undeniable that Michael (Harold Perrineau) is in a terrible position, picking up a grieving son who barely knows his father. That said, the former construction worker and painter spiraled out of control over the first two seasons.
17 Jack Shephard Should Take A Breather
The pilot episode opens to Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) dressed up in his suit. He jumps into action, helping the other survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Even if his urge to help comes from a good place, after six seasons, his messiah complex becomes harder to take. Jack insists he knows what's best for all the other survivors.
16 John Locke Needs To Bring It Down A Notch
John Locke (Terry Quinn) seems like a jolly man, but as his backstory unfolds, it's clear that his investment in the Island is a lot deeper than it initially appears to be. He is blindly determined, to the point that he inadvertently causes Boone's (Ian Somerhalder) death. John becomes the face of evil by the end of the series.
15 Sayid Slips Into Torture Mode Too Quickly
Without Sayid (Naveen Andrews), the survivors would have no idea how to work the electronics or boost the signal. Sadly, the veteran of Iraq's Special Republican Guard finds the group pushing for his darker skillset - use of this skillset is encouraged all too often.
14 Jacob Is Kind Of A Jerk
Jacob is one of Lost's many mysteries. The show frames Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) as a good guy and protector of the Island, but think of the number of people of the centuries that he stranded, pulled away from the world, and forced to fight for their lives...against a giant smoke monster! He created that monster.
13 Shannon Rutherford Seems Like The Average Spoiled Rich Kid
Any Lost fan can instantly picture Shannon (Maggie Grace) shrieking on the beach in her mini-skirt, while chaos whirls around her. For the first few episodes, Shannon comes off as a spoiled brat, who does little more than berate and antagonize Boone, before finding her way on the Island.
12 Between Mourning His Glory Days And The Drugs, Charlie Is A Mess
"Not Penny's Boat" remains one of the series' most iconic moments. Charlie (Dominic Monaghan, fresh off his run as Merry in Lord of the Rings) is a rock star in decline, battling addiction. He has charming moments, but there are countless times where audiences find themselves shaking their head at the brooding former star.
11 Kate Has Questionable Decision-Making Skills
It's one thing to protect yourself and your mother. However, burning down the house with your stepfather in it doesn't seem like the answer. Kate (Evangeline Lilly) spends the flashbacks jumping around under different aliases. She spends her time on the Island bouncing between Jack and Sawyer.
10 Claire Births A Child On The Island...And Ends Up Crazy
Claire (Emilie de Raven) has one of the more tragic story arcs on Lost. She survives the plane crash and gives birth to her son, Aaron, not long after. She loses her closest companion on the Island and is eventually left behind by the Oceanic Six.
9 Desmond Hume Could Hold Back On The "Brother" Thing
In the season two premiere, audiences finally get a peek into the mysterious hatch Locke discovered. Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) calls everyone "brother," and bids farewell with, "see you in another life, brother." Beyond that quirky tick, the character is loveable.
8 Sun Is Sweet But Should Have Spoken English Sooner
Sun (Yunjin Kim) and Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) could have had an easier time on the Island, had she spoken up about her ability to speak English. Yes, it would throw a wrench in her marriage, but after a plane crashes, the stakes change.
7 Ben Linus Is The Loveable Kind Of Antagonist
Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) leads the Others under the pretense that he communicated (and received orders from) Jacob. Ben treats everyone on the Island like pawns, recognizing its power and not wanting to give it up to a different "candidate."
6 Daniel Faraday Helps Decode The Time Travel Plot
Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies) is bumbling, brilliant, and bashful. He understands the Island has unexplainable properties, which make it vulnerable to a lot of people who want to exploit its power.
5 Jin Just Gets Better Every Episode
Jin (Dae Kim) starts as a harsh, aggressive husband, but becomes one of the group's North Stars. One of the survivors left behind in 1977, Jin learns to speak English, making his character arc all the more interesting to watch.
4 Miles Straume Is The Perfect Blend Of Brooding And Comedic
Miles (Ken Leung) has a special connection to the Island, and he can speak to dead people. Though the character is a late-add, he becomes a fan favorite for his blend of sassy sarcasm and heart.
3 Juliet Is A True Gem
Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) is one of the more tragic characters on Lost. She is held on the Island against her will, as the object of Ben's affections. She is kind but has little autonomy over her life with the Others.
2 There Is No Character More Wholesome Than Hurley
Hurley (Jorge Garcia), or Hugo Reyes, is the heart of Lost. He keeps the group together and manages to support all the other survivors. His flashbacks are some of the most compelling, and he is the most grounded of the Oceanic Six.
1 Sawyer (James Ford) Struts Around With A Heart Of Gold
James Ford (Josh Holloway), better known as Sawyer, is a nickname generator, and a surly Southern con man with a heart of gold. It's hard to picture the series without the beloved character who grows and evolves the most over the show's seasons.