How to Catch Up If You're Lost on LOST Season 5

LOST is a phenomenon, of that there is no doubt. In its five seasons so far the people at ABC have created an intriguing story that has sucked in millions of viewers and immersed them in a mythos that is far deeper than any of them expected at the onset. LOST has developed into one of the most successful dramas television has seen in a long time, and will be sorely missed once its series finale airs in May of 2010.

Until then, however, there are many people who are still lost on LOST. Having heard of LOST's overwhelmingly complex storyline, many have avoided trying to get into the show until now, or have only watched snippets of episodes throughout.

With the dramatic conclusion quickly rushing towards us, how is one to gain a foundation for understanding LOST in preparation for the end of Season 5 and the beginning of the sixth and final season?

Fortunately, ABC has done the work for you. Throughout the entirety of the show, ABC has periodically aired "catch-up" episodes and small summaries to allow those who have yet to dive into the show, or those who have missed significant portions, the freedom of accessibility into the LOST universe. Using these tools, it is now possible to catch up on LOST in less than an hour. I am here to explain how.

LOST in 8:15
First, to gain a foundational understanding of the show, it is recommended to go to YouTube and watch ABC's LOST in 8:15, a recap of everything from season's 1-3. This 8 minute, 15 second recap is an extremely fast-paced firehose of information which may require multiple watchings to really glean the maximum amount of the show's background possible.

While the information presented in this recap can be a bit overwhelming, it is mediated by a rather funny female narrator who gives the most essential information from the first three seasons while retaining a great bit of the humor and irony of those shows as they aired. Watching this video twice will take only 16 minutes and 30 seconds, and give you plenty of time to soak in the most recent, and longer, fleshing out of the show's story.

The Story of the Oceanic 6
On April 22, 2009, ABC aired a new full-length episode recapping the most pertinent events of the show up through close to the end of season 5 titled The Story of the Oceanic 6. This episode lasts 43 minutes and 30 seconds, taking you to the end of your hour of catching up on LOST, and reexamines the events which took place from beginning to end, focusing on the happenings of seasons 4 and 5 to give a comprehensive view of what viewers will need to know going into the final 3 episodes of season 5 and all of season 6.

Once all of that is done, prepare for the final 20 episodes of one of most intriguing shows in television history. Also, it might be helpful to have a friend along for the ride who has seen the rest of LOST and can explain anything you might have missed in the hour you spent learning the LOST lore. From here on out, it is sure to be an exciting ride.