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‘Lost’ Turns 20! Everything You Should Know About the Groundbreaking Series

‘Lost’ has mystified and astounded fans for two decades now, and we’ll break down how to watch the show here.

Lost is 20 years old as of Sunday, and is available to stream from start to finish on Hulu.

Have you gotten “Lost” yet? If not, it may be time to start thinking about giving the series a try. “Lost” first premiered on ABC on Sept. 22, 2004, a full 20 years ago. Some readers can be forgiven for needing to absorb the shock of that fact, but for those who don’t know much about it, “Lost” was one of the most buzzy titles of the decade in the 2000s, easily matching the hype of series like “The Office.” If you haven’t streamed “Lost” yet, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the show below below.

What is the Premise of ‘Lost’?

Lost features the survivors of a plane crash delving deeply into the secrets of the island they land on.

Created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, “Lost” follows the story of a group of survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashes en route to its final destination. The survivors of the crash wind up on a mysterious, seemingly uninhabited tropical island and are forced to band together to survive, confronted with dangers like smoke monsters, polar bears, and another group of humans known only as “The Others.”

As the Oceanic Flight 815 survivors explore and learn more about the island, they come to find there’s much more to their involuntary home than they ever thought possible. Some characters eventually escape the island, only to find that their destinies continue to draw them back to the place. Exploring themes of time travel, fate, science, and faith, “Lost” will make viewers question everything they think they know constantly as they get deeper into the show.

Who Are the Main Characters of ‘Lost’?

Lost has a huge ensemble cast of characters that features some well-known actors.

“Lost” features a huge ensemble of characters, and many who seem important end up not being key to the plot in the end, while others who may appear secondary take on huge roles. Below is a list of main characters from the show’s first season, which will allow fans to get to know the show more easily.

  • Jack Shepherd: Played by Matthew Fox. A spinal surgeon who is haunted by the expectations of his dead father. Jack becomes a leader of the survivors of O.F. 815, albeit a reluctant one.

  • Kate Austen: Played by Evangeline Lilly. Running from a past that she can’t avoid forever, Kate brings a big secret with her to the island. Her chemistry with Jack is undeniable, but she also has clear feelings for Sawyer, who represents another aspect of her personality.

  • John Locke: Played by Terry O’Quinn. A man of deep faith, Locke is paralyzed before the crash on the island, which seems to magically heal him and allow him to walk again. He believes he has a spiritual connection to the island, bringing him into conflict with Jack.

  • James “Sawyer” Ford: Played by Josh Holloway. A con man with a dark past of his own, Sawyer is initially antagonistic to most of the rest of the survivors. A loner who prefers to do things his own way, Sawyer has a lot to learn about surviving.

  • Michael Dawson: Played by Harold Perrineau. Michael is an artist and construction worker who is desperate to forge a relationship with his son Walt. Desperate to ensure his son survives, Michael will do anything he can to escape the island.

  • Jin-Soo Kwon: Played by Daniel Day Kim. Kwon does not speak English when he’s first stranded, leading to conflict with the other passengers. He loves his wife Sun deeply, agreeing to work as a mob enforcer for her father before becoming stranded.

  • Hugo “Hurley” Reyes: Played by Jorge Garcia. A former lottery winner who can’t seem to stop avoiding bad luck, including his latest run which he blames for his crash on the island.

  • Sayid Jarrah: Played by Naveen Andrews. A former member of the Iraqi Republican Guard, Sayid is haunted by the terrible things he once was forced to do.

  • Danielle Rousseau: One of the first human inhabitants of the island met by the survivors of O.F. 815. When found by the group, Rousseau has been stranded for 16 years and is desperate for any news of her child Alex.

How to Watch ‘Lost’

Hulu is the best way to stream all seasons of Lost on-demand.

“Lost” is available to stream on-demand with a Hulu subscription. Viewers can enjoy all six seasons of the show on-demand with Hulu, which offers viewers a 30-day free trial if they sign up for just Hulu by itself. Hulu offers an ad-supported plan for $8 per month or ad-free for $18.

Viewers who subscribe to Disney+ and Hulu as part of one of the various Disney Bundle offerings can also watch “Lost” through the Disney+ app. Customers can bundle Disney+ and Hulu together starting at just $10 per month.

Viewers should keep in mind that if they sign up for Hulu or Disney+ now, they can expect their prices to increase soon. Nearly all individual Disney streaming services and bundles will jump in price starting Thursday, Oct. 17.

Hulu

Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

It offers a good selection of current TV shows and its ad-supported tier is cheaper than both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You will be able to watch most shows from networks like ABC and Fox, and cable channels like FXX, FXM, HGTV, and more.

The service has a Limited Commercials plan for $7.99 a month, or you can upgrade to their No Ads plan for $17.99 a month. For $76.99 a month, you can get Hulu Live TV from major cable channels, live locals and regional sports networks.


David covers the biggest news stories, live events, premieres, and informational pieces for The Streamable. Before joining TS, he wrote extensively for Screen Rant and has years of experience writing about the entertainment and streaming industries. He's a Broncos fan, streams on his Toshiba Fire TV, and his favorites include "Andor," "Rings of Power," and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

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