Lost (season 4)

Lost: Season 4

Tagline: The wait is over
Series Lost
Country of origin Flag of the United States.svg United States
Network ABC
Original run January 31, 2008 – May 29, 2008
No. of episodes 14
DVD release date Region 2: October 20, 2008
Region 1: December 9, 2008 (Widescreen boxed set, Blu-ray Disc set)
Previous season 3
Next season 5

The fourth season of the American serial drama television series Lost commenced airing on the American Broadcasting Company Network in the United States,[1] and on CTV in Canada on January 31, 2008 and concluded on May 29, 2008. The season continues the stories of a group of over forty people who have been stranded on a remote island in the South Pacific, after their airplane crashed more than ninety days prior to the beginning of the season.[2] According to Lost's executive producers/writers/show runners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, there are two main themes in fourth season: "the castaways' relationship to the freighter folk"[3] and "who gets off the island and the fact that they need to get back".[4] Lost came under scrutiny from critics in its third season, but the fourth season was hailed for its flashforwards, pace and new characters.[5]

The season was originally planned to contain sixteen episodes; eight were filmed before the start of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.[6] Following the strike's resolution, it was announced that only five more episodes would be produced to complete the season;[7] however, the season finale's script was so long that network executives approved the production of a fourteenth episode as part of a three-hour season finale split over two nights.[8] Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the season on DVD and Blu-ray Disc under the title Lost: The Complete Fourth Season – The Expanded Experience on December 9, 2008 in Region 1;[9] however, it was released earlier—on October 20, 2008—in Region 2.[10]

Contents

Crew

The fourth season was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Robot Productions and Grass Skirt Productions. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse served as the season's show runners.[11] The show was primarily filmed in Hawaii with post-production in Los Angeles.[12] Lindelof and Cuse's fellow executive producers were co-creator J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Jack Bender. The staff writers were Lindelof, Cuse, co-executive producers Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz,[13] and Drew Goddard, supervising producer Elizabeth Sarnoff, co-producer Brian K. Vaughan and executive story editor Christina M. Kim. The regular directors were Bender and co-executive producer Stephen Williams.[14]

Cast

The fourth season featured sixteen major roles with star billing. The show continues to chronicle the lives of the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815, including their interactions with the island's original inhabitants, whom they call "the Others", and a threatening team from a nearby freighter. Matthew Fox stars as Dr. Jack Shephard, the leader of the castaways. Jorge Garcia plays Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, one of Jack's fellow survivors of 815. Elizabeth Mitchell portrays Juliet Burke, a woman recruited by the Others who joins the 815 survivors in the third season and becomes involved in a love square with Jack, Kate and Sawyer. Evangeline Lilly stars as fugitive Kate Austen. Jeremy Davies plays Daniel Faraday, a socially awkward physicist from the freighter. Terry O'Quinn plays John Locke, an 815 survivor with a deep connection to the island.[15] Josh Holloway portrays the sardonic 815 survivor James "Sawyer" Ford. Naveen Andrews acts as 815 survivor Sayid Jarrah, a former soldier of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Emilie de Ravin portrays single new mother Claire Littleton of 815. Michael Emerson acts as Ben Linus, the leader of the Others. Rebecca Mader acts as anthropologist Charlotte Lewis from the freighter. Daniel Dae Kim plays the non-English speaking Jin Kwon and Yunjin Kim plays his pregnant wife Sun. Henry Ian Cusick plays Desmond Hume, a man who has been living on the island for three years and sometimes time travels beyond his control. Ken Leung portrays Miles Straume, an arrogant medium from the freighter. Harold Perrineau acts as 815 survivor Michael Dawson, who returns after escaping the island aboard the freighter undercover for Ben as a deckhand.

The show always features guest stars. Jeff Fahey plays the freighter's helicopter pilot Frank Lapidus, while Kevin Durand acts as Martin Keamy, the leader of a group of mercenaries from the freighter that included Anthony Azizi's character Omar. L. Scott Caldwell and Sam Anderson return as 815 married couple Rose Henderson and Bernard Nadler. John Terry appears as Jack and Claire's deceased father Christian Shephard. Marsha Thomason returns as Naomi Dorrit, the first person from the freighter to appear on the island and Marc Vann plays Ray, the ship's doctor. Alan Dale acts as Charles Widmore, the man who sends the freighter to the island. Mira Furlan portrays Danielle Rousseau, an island inhabitant of sixteen years, who is reunited with her sixteen-year old daughter, Alex, played by Tania Raymonde; Blake Bashoff plays Alex's boyfriend Karl. Nestor Carbonell is Richard Alpert, the ranking Other while Ben is held in captivity. Grant Bowler acts as Gault, the captain of the freighter, Kahana. Fisher Stevens and Zoë Bell play George Minkowski and Regina, two crew members involved with communications. Lance Reddick's character Matthew Abaddon is introduced as a man with connections to Naomi, Hurley and Locke.

Former regular cast members return for guest spots. Malcolm David Kelley reprises the role of Walt Lloyd, Michael's son, in both flashbacks and flashforwards. Dominic Monaghan and Cynthia Watros appear in hallucinations as Charlie Pace and Libby.

Reception

See also: List of awards and nominations for Lost

Time named Lost the seventh best television series of 2008 and praised the fourth season for "complicat[ing] [Lost's] time-and-space-travel story deliciously".[16] Don Williams of BuddyTV dubbed "The Beginning of the End" "the most anticipated season premiere of the year"[17] and Michael Ausiello later called the final hour of Lost's fourth season "the most anticipated 60 minutes of television all year."[18] American critics were sent screener DVDs of "The Beginning of the End" and "Confirmed Dead" on January 28, 2008.[19] Metacritic gave the season a Metascore—a weighted average based on the impressions of a select twelve critical reviews—of 87,[20] earning the second highest Metascore in the 2007–2008 television season after the fifth and final season of HBO's The Wire.[21] In a survey conducted by TVWeek of professional critics, Lost was voted the best show on television in the first half of 2008 "by a wide margin", apparently "crack[ing] the top five on nearly every critic's submission" and receiving "nothing but praise".[22] The May 7, 2007 announcement of a 2010 series end date and the introduction of flashforwards were received favorably by critics,[23] as were the season's new characters.[24] The season earned Lost two Television Critics Association Award nominations for "Program of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Drama", although it lost to AMC's Mad Men.[25] The season has been nominated for a 2008 Writers Guild of America Award in the category of Dramatic Series.[26]

While the first episodes of the season were an improvement over the late episode of the third season, the fourth season generally continued Lost's decline in ratings. The season premiered with eighteen million American viewers, giving Lost its highest ratings in seventeen episodes; however, the size of the audience steadily decreased throughout the season. The eighth episode, which served as the mid-season finale as a result of the writers' strike, brought in thirteen million,[27] setting a new series low.[28] The next episode and midseason premiere climbed slightly to fourteen million,[29] but the episode after that set the current record for lowest-rated episode in the United States with thirteen million people watching.[30] The finale was seen by fourteen million, reaching the most viewers since the midseason premiere and making it Lost's worst finale yet, ratings-wise.[31] Despite the decline in viewers, Lost consistently ranked within the top twenty programs of the week with one exception. The finale topped the chart, due to its broadcast being over a week after the official end of the television season.[32] ABC's president Stephen McPherson commented that he would "love to see the show grow … the reality is that the numbers are pretty good."[27]

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Episode #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season. "Featured character(s)" refers to the character(s) who is centered on in the episode's flashbacks or flashforwards. "American viewers in millions" refers to the number of Americans in millions who watched the episodes live or recorded them and watched them within seven days of broadcast. A clip-show recapping the first three seasons titled "Lost: Past, Present & Future" preceded the premiere.[33]

Series # Episode # Title Directed by Written by Featured character(s) American viewers in millions Original airdate
70 1 "The Beginning of the End"  Jack Bender Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse Hurley 17.766[34] January 31, 2008
Upon learning that Penny did not send the freighter, the survivors of 815 split into two groups led by Jack and Locke. Meanwhile, Hurley and Claire struggle with the news of Charlie's death. In flashforwards, Hurley is revealed to be one of the "Oceanic Six"—a group of six survivors, including Jack and Kate, of the crash of 815 who have escaped the island. 
71 2 "Confirmed Dead"  Stephen Williams Drew Goddard & Brian K. Vaughan Daniel, Charlotte, Miles, Frank & Naomi 16.963[35] February 7, 2008
A science team from the freighter flown via helicopter by pilot Frank arrives on the island. A single flashback for each of the freighter crew members introduces their backstories. The episode's final flashback focuses on the late Naomi, who meets with Abaddon to discuss the science team and pilot. The team consists of Daniel, a physicist; Miles, a medium, and Charlotte, an anthropologist. 
72 3 "The Economist"  Jack Bender Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz Sayid 15.647[36] February 14, 2008
Locke's group settles into the Barracks. Sayid makes a deal with Frank to leave the island, in exchange for freeing Charlotte. Sayid holds up his end of the deal; however, he obtains Charlotte by trading her for Miles. Frank, Sayid and Desmond leave the island for the freighter by helicopter. In flashforwards, Oceanic Six member Sayid works as an assassin for Ben. 
73 4 "Eggtown"  Stephen Williams Elizabeth Sarnoff & Greggory Nations Kate 15.438[37] February 21, 2008
Kate goes on a quest to get information from Miles, which leads to her banishment from Locke's group. In flashforwards, Kate is raising Claire's son Aaron and goes on trial for her numerous past crimes. 
74 5 "The Constant"  Jack Bender Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof Desmond 14.998[38] February 28, 2008
Upon arriving on the freighter, Desmond gains his 1996 consciousness and time travels between 2004 and 1996. In 1996, he finds Daniel, who explains to him that he needs to find something or someone familiar in both times to stop his life-threatening time traveling. In 1996, he locates Penny; in 2004, he contacts Penny. 
75 6 "The Other Woman"  Eric Laneuville Drew Goddard & Christina M. Kim Juliet 14.933[39] March 6, 2008
Juliet and Jack pursue Daniel and Charlotte, after they leave without notice for the Dharma electrical station, where they render a deadly gas inert. Meanwhile, Ben, who is being held captive by Locke, tells Locke about Widmore. Flashbacks show Juliet's relationships with Ben, her lover Goodwin and his wife Harper. 
76 7 "Ji Yeon"  Stephen Semel Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz Sun & Jin 13.844[40] March 13, 2008
When Jin and Sun decide to join Locke's group, Juliet informs Jin of Sun's affair. On the freighter, Desmond and Sayid meet Gault, who offers more details on the fake wreckage of 815 previously mentioned by Naomi. Flashbacks show Jin on a maternal mission, while flashforwards show Sun—another member of the Oceanic Six—giving birth. 
77 8 "Meet Kevin Johnson"  Stephen Williams Elizabeth Sarnoff & Brian K. Vaughan Michael 13.386[41] March 20, 2008
Sayid and Desmond confront Ben's spy on the freighter: Michael. Flashbacks show how Michael got from New York to the freighter, including his suicide attempts and deal with the Others. 
78 9 "The Shape of Things to Come"  Jack Bender Brian K. Vaughan & Drew Goddard Ben 14.067[42] April 24, 2008
A team of mercenaries from the freighter attacks Locke's group at the barracks. In flashforwards, Ben recruits Sayid as his assassin and confronts Widmore. 
79 10 "Something Nice Back Home"  Stephen Williams Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz Jack 12.946[43] May 1, 2008
Sawyer, Miles and Claire make their way back to the beach camp from the Barracks, but Claire disappears in the night with her deceased father. Meanwhile, Jack falls ill with appendicitis and the survivors work together to save him. In flashforwards, Jack's life begins to fall apart as he starts taking pills and his relationship with Kate becomes strained. 
80 11 "Cabin Fever"  Paul Edwards Elizabeth Sarnoff & Kyle Pennington Locke 13.003[44] May 8, 2008
Locke, Ben and Hurley journey to Jacob's cabin, where Locke is informed that they have to move the island. After returning to the freighter, the mercenaries stage a mutiny. In flashbacks, Locke is shown to have always been destined to become the next leader of the island. 
81 12 "There's No Place Like Home: Part 1"  Stephen Williams Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse Jack, Hurley, Sayid, Sun & Kate 13.102[45] May 15, 2008
Six of the survivors are taken to the freighter and explosives are discovered onboard. Meanwhile, Ben surrenders to the mercenaries and Kate and Sayid meet the Others in the forest. Flashforwards show the Oceanic Six's first actions after returning home. 
82/83 13/14 "There's No Place Like Home: Part 2"  Jack Bender Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof Jack, Hurley, Sayid, Sun & Kate 13.991[46] May 29, 2008
After Kate, Sayid and the Others free Ben and kill the mercenaries, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, Sun, Aaron, Desmond and Frank are rescued by Penny after Ben and Locke succeed in moving the island and the freighter explodes. In flashforwards, the Oceanic Six and Walt react to visits from Locke. 

References

  1. ↑ ABC Medianet, (March 21, 2007) "Fourteen Early Pick-Ups Announced for the 2007–08 Season". Retrieved on July 7, 2007.
  2. ↑ ABC Medianet, (January 14, 2008) "Feeling That Their Rescue is Imminent, the Survivors Ponder Charlie's Final Message that the People Claiming to Liberate Them Aren't Who They Seem to Be". Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  3. ↑ Jensen, Jeff "Doc", (February 20, 2008) "Lost: Mind-Blowing Scoop From Its Producers", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on July 10, 2008.
  4. ↑ Albiniak, Paige, (February 24, 2008) "Ten Reasons Why Lost is Found", New York Post. Retrieved on March 17, 2008.
  5. ↑ Ryan, Maureen, (January 29, 2008) "Lost's Fab Start to Season 4, and a Chat with Co-Creator Damon Lindelof", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on January 30, 2008.
  6. ↑ Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (November 5, 2007) "Lost Writers: 'Like Putting Down a Harry Potter Book in the Middle'", Variety. Retrieved on November 8, 2007.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie, (February 12, 2008) "Stage Set for Cuse", The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on February 13, 2008.
  8. ↑ Dos Santos, Kristin, (April 11, 2008) "Exclusive! Three-Hour Lost Season Finale Over Two Nights", E!. Retrieved on July 11, 2008.
  9. ↑ Lambert, David, (April 22, 2008) "Get Lost Again this December", TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ Amazon, (June 29, 2008) "Lost Complete Series 4". Retrieved on July 14, 2008.
  11. ↑ Keller, Joel, (January 15, 2007) "ABC's Show Runners Talk About Pitching, Network Notes, and Internet Scrutiny", TV Squad. Retrieved on August 30, 2007.
  12. ↑ Brislin, Tom, (January 25, 2007) "UH Academy for Creative Media, Lost, Create Student Internship Program", University of Hawaii. Retrieved on August 30, 2007.
  13. ↑ Frutkin, A.J., (March 1, 2007) "ABC Signs Lost's Kitsis, Horowitz to Three-Year Deal", MediaWeek. Retrieved on June 15, 2007.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie, (July 12, 2007) "Williams to stay Lost at ABC Studios", The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on August 17, 2007..
  15. ↑ Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (May 11, 2007) "Official Lost Podcast", ABC. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.
  16. ↑ Poniewozik, James. "Top 10 TV Series of 2008". Time. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.
  17. ↑ Williams, Don, (January 31, 2008) "Lost: Episode 4.1 'The Beginning of the End' Live Thoughts", BuddyTV. Retrieved on January 31, 2008.
  18. ↑ Ausiello, Michael, (April 11, 2008) "It's Official: Lost Finds Extra Hour… But There's a Twist!", TV Guide. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  19. ↑ Goodman, Tim, (January 30, 2008) "Want to Get Lost? There's Still Time as Season Starts", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on February 2, 2008.
  20. ↑ Metacritic, (January 31, 2008) "Lost (ABC): Season 4". Retrieved on February 16, 2008.
  21. ↑ Metacritic, (January 6, 2008) "Wire, The (HBO): Season 5". Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  22. ↑ Krukowski, Andrew, (July 6, 2008) "Favorites Hold Fast", TVWeek. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  23. ↑ ABC Medianet, (May 7, 2007) "Lost to Conclude in 2009–10 Television Season". Retrieved on July 31, 2007.
  24. ↑ Lachonis, Jon "DocArzt", (February 13, 2008) "Rebecca Mader Lost Interview", UGO Networks. Retrieved on March 16, 2008.
  25. ↑ Television Critics Association, (July 19, 2008) "AMC Scores First-Ever TCA Awards with Top Honors". Retrieved on July 24, 2008.
  26. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 8, 2008). "TV trio rack up WGA nominations", Variety. Retrieved on December 15, 2008. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Jensen, Jeff "Doc", (April 10, 2008) "Secrets from the Set!", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  28. ↑ Williams, Don, (March 24, 2008) "Lost Season 4 Suffers Ratings Decline", BuddyTV. Retrieved on April 19, 2008.
  29. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (May 12, 2008) "Idol, Grey's, Lost, Housewives and The Office Lead Weekly DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on May 13, 2008.
  30. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (May 19, 2008) "Idol, Grey's, House, Lost, Desperate Housewives and The Office Lead Total DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on May 20, 2008.
  31. ↑ Hibberd, James, (June 3, 2008) "ABC's Lost Puts on a Show", The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  32. ↑ Moore, Frazier, (June 3, 2008) "ABC's Lost Finds Itself on Top", Associated Press. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  33. ↑ ABC Medianet, (January 14, 2008) "A Look Over the Past Three Seasons will Attempt to Shed Some Light on Where the Survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are and if Rescue Truly is at Hand". Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
  34. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (February 24, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, January 28–February 3", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
  35. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (February 25, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, February 4–10", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
  36. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (March 3, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, February 11–17", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
  37. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (March 10, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, February 18–24", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
  38. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (March 17, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, February 25–March 2", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
  39. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (March 24, 2008) "Top Time-Shifted Broadcast Shows, March 3–9", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
  40. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (March 31, 2008) "What You're Watching on Your DVRs (Broadcast Networks), March 10–16", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on July 12, 2008
  41. ↑ Gorman, Bill, (April 7, 2008) "What You're Watching on Your DVRs (Broadcast Networks), March 17–23", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on June 5, 2008
  42. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (May 13, 2008) "Idol, Grey's, Lost, Housewives and The Office Lead Weekly DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on May 13, 2008.
  43. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (May 19, 2008) "Idol, Grey's, House, Lost, Desperate Housewives and The Office Lead Total DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on May 20, 2008.
  44. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (May 28, 2008) "American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, House and Desperate Housewives Again Lead DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
  45. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (June 5, 2008) "Office Again Tops Broadcast Shows w/ 41.2% Time-Shifting Gain", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
  46. ↑ Seidman, Robert, (June 16, 2008) "Lost Finale, Hell's Kitchen and So You Think You Can Dance Lead DVR Viewing", TV by the Numbers. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
Lost
Production Cast • Episode list • Music • Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5
Main characters Ana Lucia • Ben • Boone • Charlie • Charlotte • Claire • Desmond • Faraday • Hurley • Jack • Jin • Juliet
Kate • Libby • Locke • Michael • Miles • Mr. Eko • Nikki and Paulo • Sawyer • Sayid • Shannon • Sun • Walt
Supporting characters Alex • Bernard • Christian • Ethan • Keamy • Rose • Rousseau • Tom
Groups Dharma Initiative • Hanso Foundation • Oceanic Airlines • The Others
Miscellaneous Awards • Find 815 • Lost Experience • Lost: Missing Pieces • Lostpedia • Lost: Via Domus • Mythology
Lost Season 4
"The Beginning of the End" · "Confirmed Dead" · "The Economist" · "Eggtown" · "The Constant" · "The Other Woman" · "Ji Yeon" · "Meet Kevin Johnson" · "The Shape of Things to Come" · "Something Nice Back Home" · "Cabin Fever" · "There's No Place Like Home"