Lost - The Complete Third Season (2006)

 Secrets Revealed
The common consensus with fans seems to be that the third season of Lost is the weakest. I have to, respectfully, disagree.

The genius writers and assorted crew behind "Lost" kept it fresh in the second season by focusing most of the action around the mysterious hatch. In the case of this season (the third), the main plot focuses on the conflict between the Oceanic survivors and the Others. Finally, after two entire seasons shrouded in mystery, some of the big questions start to get answers.

+ We learn how Ben came to be the leader of the Others
+ We learn what happened to the Dharma Initiative
+ We get a 'sort of' origin story for the Others
+ We learn how Locke ended up in a wheelchair.

But that's not it. This season has a tighter narrative than any of those previous. While the flashbacks sometimes felt a bit contrived (especially the "how Jack got his tattoo" story), the main plots of each of these episodes tied very nicely in to each other, creating a very focused story-arc for this season. Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Charlie, and Desmond get some great character development, while characters that seemed to be static (such as Hurley) start to play larger parts. As with any show, there were story lines that I wasn't sure about (such as Locke becoming increasingly morally ambiguous), but the fact that I was constantly shocked and enthralled by this show is just a testament to how well-done it is.

Though the story is so continuous in "Lost" (particularly this season), it's hard to pick out the episodes that really stand out, but there are a few I thought really solidified this series as one of the best I've ever seen. These are those episodes.

5. The Cost of Living: Tugs on your heartstrings, and opens up new questions.
4. Flashes Before Your Eyes: I was confused at the decision to make Desmond a permanent character, but this episode made him one of my favorites. Tragic, revealing, and the essence of "Lost."
3. Tricia Tanaka Is Dead: Nearly perfect. This episode solidifies Hurley as a great character, and shows the characters having fun, which is great to see in the middle of so much drama.
2. Greatest Hits: As a penultimate episode, it is a perfect example of how to build up tension for an explosive finale. Also, it has the greatest usage of flashbacks (recounting the best moments of Charlie's life) in the series, until...
1. Through the Looking Glass: This two-part finale is a roller coaster ride that will keep you tense up (with tears in your eyes, because not everyone makes it out alive) until the shocking end.

This show is brilliant. Simple as that. At this point, I trust the "Lost" team with any path they want to take us down, because this season and the two previous ones are proof that the yarn they spin is golden.

10/10 Classic. May 12, 2008

 awesome show once we got unscratched discs!
LOST is an awesome series and it's great to watch the episodes on DVD without commercials. The first box set we received had a scratched disc. Amazon made the exchange process easy and painless! May 2, 2008

 DON'T USE THIS VENDOR!!!
DON'T USE THIS PERSON. I HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED THIS VIDEO, ALTHOUGH MY
CREDIT CARD HAS BEEN CHARGED. I HAVE SENT NUMEROUS EMAILS WITH NO RESPONSE.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING FROM THIS PERSON. April 29, 2008

 Curiouser and Curiouser
It's Lost! It only gets better and more complicated.
This season adds some new questions and a closer look at the Others.
April 28, 2008

 AMAZING
This is the best television show EVER. If you're starting new, though, make sure to start with season 1. April 27, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...