10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (2024)

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10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (1)

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10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (2)

Quick Links

  • Jack, Kate, And Sawyer Become Prisoners

  • Jack is Seen Bonding With The Others

  • Shannon Gets Shot By Ana Lucia

  • Jack Demands Kate to Escape

  • Michael Kills Ana Lucia And Libby

  • Juliet Detonates The Hydrogen Bomb

  • Charlie asks a Question Everyone is Thinking

  • The Island Moves, The Freighter Explodes, And John Locke is in a Coffin

  • The Group Blows Up The Hatch

  • Jack Tells Kate "We Have to Go Back!"

Premiering twenty years ago, Lost was an event show unlike anything people had seen before and other mystery series that came after couldn't match its impact. For six seasons, viewers were thrilled by the journey involving a group of plane crash survivors who end up on a strange island. Each episode delved deep into their backstories while introducing new mysteries surrounding the island.

Even with a divisive finale, Lost was a pop culture phenomenon that still deserves its praise and acclaim. It was deemed a "water cooler" show, meaning people would watch an episode and then talk about it with others the next day. One thing the show succeeded at was adding surprising twists and turns to keep viewers invested, specifically through the cliffhangers. Whether from a mid-season episode or a season finale, these episodes' endings left fans in shock. These included upsetting character deaths and baffling island secrets.

10 Jack, Kate, And Sawyer Become Prisoners

Season 2, Episode 24: "Live Together, Die Alone (Part 2)"

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (3)
  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.4

The Season 2 finale of Lost had enough intensity and answers to crucial questions as some main characters came face to face with the antagonistic Others. In "Live Together, Die Alone," Michael is forced to bring Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley to the Others' camp in exchange for his son Walt. While trekking to the camp, the truth about Michael's actions comes to light as he is responsible for the deaths of Ana Lucia and Libby.

Once Michael and the chosen survivors arrive, Ben, who is using the alias Henry, frees Walt and tells Michael to leave the island. Ben reassures Michael that he and the Others are the "good guys," further raising suspicions of the already mysterious group. After Michael's final act of betrayal, Hurley gets freed and is instructed to tell the other survivors to stay on their side of the island. Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are then left as prisoners for the Others, leaving viewers in anticipation for the start of Season 3. Another epic cliffhanger in this episode was the reveal that Desmond may have been responsible for crashing Oceanic Flight 815, leading to him causing a discharge in the hatch that leaves multiple characters knocked out.

9 Jack is Seen Bonding With The Others

Season 3, Episode 12: "Par Avion"

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (4)
  • Episode IMDb Rating: 8.2

The Others were an antagonistic force to be reckoned with throughout Lost's duration, especially in Season 3. When the season began, Jack, Kate, and Sawyer were put through tough trials and tribulations as prisoners for the Others. However, a few episodes into the season, Jack sacrifices his freedom so that Kate and Sawyer can escape. Once those two were free from their imprisonment, they recruited Sayid and John Locke to rescue Jack.

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5

In "Par Avion," not only is there a flashback revealing that Jack and Claire are secretly half-siblings, but the quartet of Kate, Sawyer, John, and Sayid also attempt to scale the Others' perimeter defense to find Jack. Once inside, they see how civilized the Others are and notice Jack is with some residents. However, instead of being imprisoned, Jack is laughing and playing football. After enduring several punishments earlier in Season 3 by the Others, seeing Jack bonding with the show's villainous group caught the characters and viewers off-guard. By the end of "Par Avion," people questioned if Jack was brainwashed by the Others and had to wait for the next episode to see if that theory was true.

8 Shannon Gets Shot By Ana Lucia

Season 2, Episode 6: "Abandoned"

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (6)
  • Episode IMDb Rating: 8.2

There have been many shows notorious for being unafraid of killing off series regular characters, and Lost was an early example of that TV trend. In Season 1, Lost had its first major character death when Boone succumbed to his injuries after falling in a small plane that was stuck in a tree. His death affected the survivor group, especially his stepsister Shannon, and proved that no main character was safe.

Season 2 continued with Lost's shocking character deaths by having Shannon die in the episode "Abandoned." The episode focused heavily on Shannon and more of her past. Furthermore, her relationship with Sayid reaches a turning point when they confess their feelings for one another while in the rain. However, both Sayid and the viewers are left in shock when Ana Lucia, the leader of the Tailies, shoots Shannon after mistaking her for an Other. As Shannon dies in his arms, Sayid starts getting furious at Ana Lucia before the episode cuts to the credits. Viewers actually had to wait two episodes to see this cliffhanger resolved because the episode after "Abandoned" was dedicated to the Tailies' time on the island.

7 Jack Demands Kate to Escape

Season 3, Episode 6: "I Do"

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (7)
  • Episode IMDb Rating: 8.5

After the Season 2 finale, everyone was in an anticipatory mood to see what would happen next since Jack, Kate, and Sawyer got captured. However, Lost Season 3 got off to a slow start as viewers had to endure seeing the three characters, who were in a love triangle, get subjected to punishments and torture by the Others. After the first few episodes of Season 3, it was clear that the writers needed time to get people's attention back.

As a result, the episode "I Do" became the mid-season finale before the show went on a three-month hiatus. In the episode, Jack accepts an offer from Ben, the leader of the Others. Ben has a tumor in his spine that needs extracting, and Jack was a spinal surgeon before getting stranded on the island. However, during the surgery, Jack sabotages it, giving Ben an hour to live unless Kate and Sawyer are freed. As Sawyer is held at gunpoint by a guard, a distressed Kate is given a walkie-talkie, and Jack urgently tells her to escape because she has an hour's head start. The episode's final moments are intense, and fans who watched Lost when it was airing had to patiently wait for a few months to see what happened next.

6 Michael Kills Ana Lucia And Libby

Season 2, Episode 20: "Two For The Road"

  • Episode IMDb Rating: 8.9

Lost Season 2 had the introduction of another plane crash survivor group known as the Tailies, meaning they were in the tail section of the plane. The occasional distrust and disagreement about specific methods between the main survivors and the Tailies created exciting yet infuriating conflicts. The standout members of the Tailies group included Libby and Ana Lucia.

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In "Two For The Road," Michael, a survivor who got captured by the Others, returns and is suffering from serious injuries. While in the hatch, Ana Lucia guards the prisoner Henry Gale, who is eventually revealed to be Ben Linus. While Michael gets treated, Ana Lucia obtains a gun so she can finally kill Henry, yet she doesn't have the courage to. Michael volunteers but shoots Ana Lucia instead. Suddenly, Libby, who was planning a picnic with Hurley, witnesses this and gets accidentally shot by Michael. This episode instantly turns Michael into a more despised character, concluding with him freeing Henry. Some fans felt Ana Lucia's death was inevitable, but Libby's death was completely unexpected. Once the credits rolled, fans had to emotionally process what transpired.

5 Juliet Detonates The Hydrogen Bomb

Season 5, Episode 17: "The Incident (Part 2)"

  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.2

There have been many times when Lost jumped the shark, especially in its experimental fifth season that introduced time travel. The back half of Season 5 followed two different storylines. One was set in the past, exploring more about the Dharma Initiative, while the other focused on John Locke and Ben in the present trying to find the ominous Jacob. The season 5 finale, "The Incident," had two wildly shocking moments for both the past and present.

First, there was the revelation in the present where Ben kills Jacob and discovers he has been manipulated by the villainous Man in Black, who is masquerading as John. Then, the past storyline features the heroes trying to return to the present by detonating a hydrogen bomb within the Dharma facility. However, their plan gets sabotaged by suspicious workers. One character drastically caught in the crossfire is Juliet, who viewers grew more sympathy for in Season 5 thanks to her unlikely romance with Sawyer. Ultimately, after taking a massive fall, Juliet uses the last of her strength to detonate the bomb. While her sacrifice did not go unnoticed, fans wondered what implications the explosion would have in the sixth and final season.

4 Charlie asks a Question Everyone is Thinking

Season 1, Episode 2: "Pilot (Part 2)"

  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.1

When it debuted in 2004, Lost set a new gold standard of how to effectively hook viewers thanks to its riveting two-part pilot episode. The opening scene alone is etched into every fan's memory as protagonist Jack Shepard and other characters wake up after their plane crashes on an island. The intensity and production value remain impressive to this day. Yet, the rest of the pilot episode has plenty of intrigue, thrills, and mysteries worth investing in.

The cliffhanger of Part 1, which saw Jack, Kate, and Charlie outrunning an unseen monster, would have been an easy contender. However, Part 2's cliffhanger got people on board with Lost's mysterious atmosphere. Along with questions about whom each survivor is and where they came from, the pilot episode concludes with questions about what kind of island they are on. Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Charlie, Shannon, and Boone all travel across the island to search for answers. They stumble upon strange occurrences like a polar bear and a French transmission blocking their radio signal. Since no one else will say it, Charlie asks, "Guys, where are we?" This pilot episode and Charlie's question were only the beginning of one of TV's best event shows.

3 The Island Moves, The Freighter Explodes, And John Locke is in a Coffin

Season 4, Episode 14: "There's No Place Like Home (Part 3)"

  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.2

Despite being significantly affected by the 2007-2008 writer's strike, Lost Season 4 never lost its footing as it delivered some of the best episodes in the show's history. Along with "The Constant," the three-part episode "There's No Place Like Home" made for an exciting and praiseworthy event. Because Lost was experimenting with flash-forwards, fans were engrossed about how specific survivors escaped the island and who got left behind.

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Part 3 of "There's No Place Like Home" simultaneously answered lingering questions while providing surprising moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Oceanic Six made up of Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun, and Aaron, escape the freighter via helicopter with Desmond and find their way to civilization. However, there were several sacrifices and fantastical happenings along the way. As ordered by Jacob, Ben uses a frozen wheel to make the island teleport. Additionally, the mercenary freighter explodes, killing Michael and leaving Jin's fate up in the air. Also, Sawyer jumps off the helicopter to avoid fuel loss and ensure some survivors make it home. If all that wasn't enough, the episode concludes with Jack and Ben at a funeral for John Locke. After this season finale, fans were left asking if Jin was actually dead, where the island was sent to, and how John ended up in the coffin.

2 The Group Blows Up The Hatch

Season 1, Episode 25: "Exodus (Part 3)"

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (10)
  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.3

Like any excellent first season, Lost Season 1 introduced several mysterious elements and gave some insight into whom each survivor was before the plane crash. Fans still call Season 1 the best of the series, which ended with a literal bang of a cliffhanger. In the second half of Season 1, one huge mystery was the discovery of the hatch, which puzzled many of the survivors, specifically John Locke.

The three-part season finale "Exodus" left many loose threads begging to be answered in Season 2. As a couple of characters attempt to leave the island via raft, the rest of the survivors try to blow up the hatch using dynamite. Their plan is successful, but there is cause for worry because the numbers "4 8 15 16 23 42," Hurley's unlucky lottery numbers, are notched onto the hatch. The episode ends with Jack and John Locke looking down the hatch, which is a long way down. Another cliffhanger featured the raft getting destroyed and Walt taken by the Others, leaving Michael, Sawyer, and Jin alone in the water. With the ominous tease of what's in the hatch and several characters' fates unclear, "Exodus" had many fans pumped about what Season 2 would bring.

1 Jack Tells Kate "We Have to Go Back!"

Season 3, Episode 23: "Through The Looking Glass (Part 2)"

  • Episode IMDb Rating: 9.7

After a slow start, Lost Season 3 really picked up near the back half and successfully stuck the landing with its acclaimed and emotionally moving season finale titled, "Through The Looking Glass." With the promise that a freighter could come and rescue everyone, the two-part season finale sees Jack and the survivors attempt to make contact. However, Ben and the Others try to sabotage the mission. While contact gets made, it isn't without a heartbreaking sacrifice.

Unable to avoid his foretold demise, Charlie, one of the most beloved characters on the show, drowns in the substation that was blocking the signal. Before dying, he warns Desmond that the boat is not the one belonging to Penny, Desmond's lover. Charlie's death made for one of the series' most tragic moments. The season finale then dropped another bombshell before the credits rolled. Throughout the episode, viewers get treated to flashbacks of a bearded and depressed Jack. However, it concludes with a reunion between him and Kate near an airport, meaning the flashbacks are actually flash-forwards. This signifies that, somehow, Jack and Kate made it off the island. If fans didn't get the twist at first, Jack then exclaims, "We have to go back!" This plea from Jack became one of Lost's greatest quotes. This shocking twist proved Lost still had some great tricks up its sleeve as fans had to wait until Season 4 to see the ramifications of Charlie's death and how some characters escaped the island.

10 Lost Cliffhangers That Had Fans on The Edge of Their Seats, Ranked (11)
Lost

TV-14

Drama

Adventure

Mystery

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date
September 22, 2004

Cast
Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Yunjin Kim , Evangeline Lilly , Terry O'Quinn , Naveen Andrews
Main Genre
Drama

Seasons
6

Creator
J.J. Abrahms, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Lieber

Number of Episodes
121
Network
ABC
Streaming Service(s)
Crackle , Hulu , Amazon Freevee , Prime Video , Plex
  • TV
  • Lost

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