Lost Series Finale Recap - Remembering and Moving On

Six seasons of what was arguably the best mystery and intrigue on television came to a close Sunday evening as the Lost series finale aired on ABC. Entitled simply and appropriately 'The End', the two and a half hour farewell to the Island and its beloved inhabitants and visitors took viewers on a tear-jerking series of reunions as the eventual fate of the Island-goers was revealed. Here's how the Lost series finale played out, from start to finish. *Spoilers*

The Lost series finale opened with a musical montage of scenes picking up where the previous episode took off: The coffin containing the body of Jack's father arriving via an Oceanic jet; Ben preparing to drink a cup of coffee, and then loading a gun; Locke heading into surgery; Kate dressed in her concert apparel, waiting in a car; Sawyer tending to Kate's wound on the Island; more. Desmond speaks first, offering to sign for Christian's coffin when it arrives via Oceanic van. He then gets into the car with Kate, who asks who died. He tells her Christian Shephard, and she's taken by the irony of the name. She gets mad and wants answers, but he tells her that no one can tell her why she's 'here'. He tells her his name, and that he's her friend. He also tells her that he wants to leave, and says he'll show her where.

On the Island, Jack stands in the water as Kate watches, sadly. Sawyer approaches Jack and the two men talk. Sawyer asks if Jack feels any different as the new Jacob. He says no. Later, Kate, Hurley, Sawyer and Jack sit around Jacob's fire and Jack tells them that they need to go to the bamboo forest to protect the light. Sawyer assumes that MIB needs Desmond to put out the light, and goes off to find him in the well. As Sawyer heads out, Hurley says he has a bad feeling about what's going to happen.

In the alternate reality, Hurley and Sayid - in the yellow Hummer - pull up to a cheap motel. Hurley pulls out a gun from the glove box and asks if he remembers anything; Sayid thinks he's nuts. Hurley promises Sayid it'll be all good if he sticks with him. Hurley knocks on a door, and Charlie answers, drunk as a skunk and unpleasant. Hurley tells him to come to do his show, and when Charlie refuses, he shoots him with a tranquilizer gun. He throws him into the back of the car and he and Sayid drive off.

On the Island, Kate asks why Jack took Jacob's job. He says that his life was ruined before, but Kate disagrees. Hurley presses them onward. Elsewhere, Sawyer watches MIB as he stands by the well. Ben pulls a gun on him and exposes him to MIB. MIB tells him that he plans to destroy the Island, and Sawyer takes the opportunity to smack Ben and run off. MIB sees pawprints on the ground: A dog. Elsewhere, Desmond wakes up with Vincent licking his face: He's in Rose and Bernard's camp. Rose tells him that she'll feed him, but then he needs to move on. Bernard approaches, with MIB and Ben on his tail. MIB pulls a knife and walks toward Desmond. He tells Des to come with him or he'll kill Rose and Bernard. Rose insists that he doesn't need to go with MIB, and Desmond asks for his word that he'll never, ever hurt them. MIB says okay, and Des says he'll do what MIB wants.

Shortly thereafter, Desmond, MIB and Ben walk through the jungle as thunder rolls. MIB asks if he knows where he's taking him, and Desmond asks if it's a place with a bright light. MIB doesn't care for this. Ben stuffs a radio deeper into his pocket. Miles tries to radio Ben; he's found Richard, who is still alive and insists that they need to go blow up the plane.

In the alternate reality, Miles gets out of a car at his dad's museum benefit and sees Sayid in the yellow Hummer. He calls Sawyer, and tells him. Sawyer promises he'll keep Sayid's gunshot victim, Sun, safe. At the hospital, Sun and Jin talk about the baby. Juliet shows up to check on the baby and sets up the ultrasound machine. As she moves the wand around her belly, Sun remembers her time on the Island when Juliet had checked her baby, and tells Jin that she remembers. There's a very touching set of flashbacks to the Island that both seem to share - including when they drowned. Juliet points out the heartbeat and ask if they want to know the gender; Sun says it's a girl in perfect English, and Jin tells Juliet her name. They smile and cry.

On the Island, Sawyer runs through the jungle until he finds the other three. He tells them that MIB plans to blow up the Island, and Jack tells them that they're all going to the same place anyway, and there it'll end.

In the alternate reality on the Lost season finale, Jack approaches Locke in pre-op. Jack asks if he's nervous; Locke asks if it'll actually work, and Jack says he's pretty confident, and tells him that he'll see him on the other side. John asks if his father's coffin ever showed up; he says yes. He says that fixing Locke will bring him peace.

On the Island, Miles and Richard sit by the water. Miles notices that Richard has a grey hair, and Richard smiles. The two men paddle into the water. They come across remnants of the sub in the water, and find an amazingly still alive Lapidus floating along. They tell him that they plan to blow up the plane, but Lapidus suggests they fly off instead. Elsewhere, the two factions meet on a hill: Kate immediately takes a gun and shoots at MIB. MIB approaches Jack, and the two have a heated conversation. Jack says he wants to go with MIB, and vows to kill him, telling him that his plan is a surprise.

Back at the hospital, Juliet and Jack share tickets to their son's concert. As Juliet gets into the elevator, Sawyer gets out, in search of Sun's room.

On the Island, the entire merged group hikes through the forest. Jack tells Sawyer that Desmond if the weapon that he'll use to destroy MIB. They reach a point, and MIB stops. He tells Jack and Desmond to come with him; Hurley tells Jack that he believes in him before the three head off alone. The sky threatens rain as the three arrive at the light. As Jack ties a rope around Desmond, Des tells him that what happens doesn't matter; that as soon as he's lowered into the light, he'll go somewhere else. He tells Jack that he's also in the other place and that the plane never crashed. Jack disagrees, insisting that it all matters. Desmond enters the cave toward the light and the other two follow.

In the alternate reality, Hurley and Sayid sit in the car in the dark. Sayid asks why they're there, and Hurley tells him he can't tell him. Hurley tells Sayid that he's a good person, but Sayid doesn't believe it. There's a mugging in front of them, and Sayid gets out of the car to help. It's Shannon, and the memories flood back to both of them. Boone comes to the window of the car; he was involved in the whole thing. They watch as Shannon and Sayid kiss.

On the Island, Miles radios Ben, who tells him not to blow up the plane. Miles tells them they plan to fly away. Suddenly, Claire shows up and starts shooting at the three men (Miles, Lapidus and Richard). Richard tells Claire that they can go home, and asks if she'll go with them. She says no, and walks off. Elsewhere, Desmond, Jack and MIB stand looking over at the light. They prepare to lower Des down into the light. It's an odd sight as MIB and Jack lower Des into the ground; MIB notes the similiarities between this scene and Des being in the hatch. Jack says that Locke was right about everything; MIB disagrees and says Jack will see it when the Island falls into the ocean.

In the alternate reality on the Lost series finale, Juliet, Claire and the boy arrive at the concert. Juliet has to go whe she gets a call from the hospital. Elsewhere, Charlotte wakes up Charlie for his show. She approaches Daniel, who stands nearby. They have a strange conversation, with Daniel introducing himself as Daniel Widmore. No memories, though. The boy and Claire arrive at table 23, where Kate and Des also sit. They look at each other, surprised. Pierre Chang introduces the entertainment: Daniel Widmore on piano and Drive Shaft. Charlie sees Claire in the crowd, and stares at her. She suddenly feels a pain, and goes off to use the restroom. Charlie watches her go; Kate follows.

On the Island, Desmond arrives at his initial destination near the light and sees a skeleton. There's a pool emanating light with a stone in the center. He walks toward the stone, into the water, and the light seems to consume him somehow; there's throbbing and burning. He drags the center rock from the pool, an then the throbbing subsides as the light goes out. As he tries to drag himself away, the center of the pool where the rock had been turns to what looks like fire; MIB tells Jack that he was wrong, and walks off as tremors begin. Jack follows MIB outside, and hits him, drawing blood much to MIB's surprise. MIB hits Jack in the head with a rock, stunning him.

In the alternate reality on the Lost series finale, Claire walks backstage and asks for the location of the restroom. Kate approaches and helps. As the band plays outside, Daniel's mother sits with Des, angry that he's continued on his quest. He tells her that they're going to leave. Backstage, Claire is in labor and Kate is trying to help. Charlie shows up and Kate tells him to get water and blankets. Kate tells Claire to push, and Kate remembers. Aaron is born and Claire remembers, tearfully saying 'it's Aaron'. Charlie arrives with the blankets, and Kate thanks him. He and Claire touch hands, and they both remember and kiss. Desmond enters the scene, and asks Kate if she understands. She asks what's next.

On the Island, what seems like a massive earthquake rocks the ground. The people in the jungle scatter; Ben notably saves Hurley from a falling tree and is trapped himself. Jack awakens and goes back into the cave. He calls for Des, but no dice. Kate, Hurley and Sawyer struggle to lift the tree from Ben as the rains fall and the ground rumbles. Miles radios Ben, and Kate picks it up. Miles asks what's happening, and tells Kate that they're going to leave on the plane. Miles tells them to get to the plane because they're leavin gin an hour. Ben tells them that Locke has a boat they can use to get there.

In the driving rain on the Lost series finale, Jack and MIB face off on a craggy cliff. The two men run toward each other aggressively... and then a commercial break. They engage in a brutal battle overlooking the ocean as the terrain begins to fall into the sea. MIB gets the knife and stabs Jack in the gut; he then sticks the knife into Jack's neck, drawing blood. As he prepares to stab Jack one last time, Kate shoots him. MIB declares that they're too late, but Jack kicks him off the edge, and he comes to rest on a lower ledge.

In the alternate reality, Locke is out of surgery and Jack notices the blood on his neck again. To his surprise, Locke comes out of the anaesthesia. Jack tells him to relax. Locke looks at him and tells him that it worked; he can feel his legs. Jack is stunned when Locke moves his foot. And Locke remembers. He asks Jack if he saw it, and Jack has a brief flash but brushes it off. John tells him that they need to go, and when Jack tells him that he needs to go see David his son, Locke tells him that he doesn't have a son. He tells Jack that he hopes someone will do something for him like what Jack just did for him.

On the Island, the rain subsided. Jack and Kate sit together on the rocks. Sawyer and the others approach; Kate tells them that Locke is dead and that it's over, but the shaking begins anew.

In the hospital, Sawyer enters Sun's room and sees the couple checking out. Sun and Jin smile at him like they're looking at an old friend as he shows them a photo of Sayid; Jin tells Sawyer 'we'll see you there' as they leave. Sawyer is stumped.

On the Island, Lapidus, Miles and Richard try to get the plane to work. Ben radios for an update, and Lapidus tells him not to bug them. The ground continues to shake, and Kate asks why. Jack says he needs to fix whatever Des moved. Kate tries to stop him, but he insists. He shakes hands with Sawyer and wishes him luck. Ben throws Sawyer his radio, and says he'll go down with the Island if he has to. Hurley says he's going with Jack, and Jack tells Kate to go. She asks if she'll ever see him again and he doesn't respond, eliciting many tears. She tells him that she loves him and he responds in like after they kiss good-bye.

Miles and Richard work to repair the plane with duct tape. Sawyer radios Richard and asks them not to leave without them. Short on time, Kate and Sawyer leap into the water below and swim toward MIB's boat.

At the hospital, Sawyer runs into Jack in the hallway and asks where he can get food. Sawyer looks at him strangely, but continues on his way, bound for the vending machine. His food gets stuck, and as he tries to retrieve it, Juliet approaches and offers to help. She tells him the secret to getting the candy out, and as he pulls the plug on the machine per her suggestion, the lights go out. She hands him the candy, and they both remember. They kiss.

In the alternate reality, Jack arrives at the concert after it's ended. Kate tells him that it's over. She asks if he's looking for someone, and he says his son. She looks at him meaningfully, and he asks how they know one another. She tells him that she stole his pen on Oceanic 815. But that's not how she knows him. She approaches him and touches his face. He resists the flashbacks and turns away as she tells him she's missed him. He's upset. She promises that if he comes with her, he'll understand.

On the Island, Hurley helps the injured Jack through the jungle as Ben trails behind. They arrive at the cave, and Jack tells Hurley that he's going down alone. Hurley refuses to let him die, but Jack insists that it's not supposed to happen this way because the Island needs him. Jack tells Hurley that he needs to be the protector, not him. Hurley tearfully agrees, but says that he's giving it back as soon as Jack restores the light. Jack fills Ben's water bottle and hands it to Hurley, telling him to drink it, which he does. Jack tells Hurley 'now you're like me'.

In the airplane, Lapidus, Richard and Miles successfully get the engine started.

At the cave, Hurley lowers Jack. The shaking begins anew, and Jack falls to the floor. He unties the rope and goes in deeper, where he sees an unconscious Desmond. Des bemoans the fact that putting out the light didn't work and tells Jack he was right. Desmond insists that he needs to put the stone back, but Jack says no, he will do it. He tells Desmond to go home to be with Penny and their son.

Kate and Sawyer come ashore on Hydra Island and see Claire sitting on the beach. Nearby, the plane begins to move. Kate tries to get Claire to come along, but Claire refuses because the Island has made her crazy. Kate says she'll help her, and she relents. They run toward the plane and nearly miss the flight, but Lapidus sees them just in time. In the cave, Jack struggles to replace the stone. Even afterward, the ground continues shaking. Claire, Kate and Sawyer climb aboard the plane. The ground cracks beneath them as Lapidus navigates along the makeshift runway, but they lift off just in time. Inside the cave, Jack lies on the ground beside the stone as water begins to flow once again and the light illuminates the darkness. Hurley and Ben are shocked that Jack did it, and pull the rope to the surface, surprised to find Desmond at the other end. Jack revels in the light, while Hurley calls out for his friend.

In the alternate reality, it's dark. Locke arrives via taxi in front of the church where Christian's coffin had been delivered to Desmond. The taxi driver helps him into his chair, and he wheels by Ben, who sits outside looking at the church. Locke asks if they've all arrived, and Ben says mostly, yes. Ben apologizes for everything he did to John, and John forgives him. Ben says he has things to work out, so he plans to sit in his place for a while. Ben tells him that he doesn't need the chair anymore, and Jon gets up and walks to the church.

On the Island, it's daylight and Hurley sadly watches the light as Ben tends to Desmond. Hurley mourns Jack, and Ben confirms that his friend is gone. Hurley feels the enormity of his new job. Ben tells him to take care of people, perhaps to help Des get home. Ben tells him that Jacob's way wasn't necessarily the only way. Hurley asks him for help, and Ben agrees.

In the alternate reality, Ben still sits outside the church. Hugo comes out and beckons Ben, who says he won't come in. Hurley calls him a good number two, and Ben calls him a great number one, and Hurley goes inside. Jack and Kate pull up in Jack's car. She says that she brought him there because it was where he was going to have his father's funeral. She says she's going inside, and will wait for him there until he's ready to leave.

On the Island on the Lost series finale, Jack awakens on a rock beside a large pool of water and begins to walk away.

In the alternate reality, Jack goes inside the church and sees his father's coffin. He puts a hand on it, and has a memory. And then another an another, mostly involving Kate. He opens the coffin, but it's empty. And then Christian speaks. Jack is upset, and asks how he's there. Christian fires the same question back at Jack, who comes to the realization that he died too. Christian ensures him that everything that's happened to him is real. Jack asks if they're all dead, and Christian notes that everyone dies at one point or another. Christian tells him that they're in a place they created so they could find each other, and that they're not leaving, but moving on. They enter a room filled with his Oceanic 815 friends. The scene is interspersed with images of Jack trudging through the jungle on the Island. Eventually, he falls to the ground and Vincent comes to lie beside him. In the church, Christian opens the door and it's filled with light. Jack lies on the ground and watches as the plane flies overhead. And then his eye closes, once and for all.

And that's it for the Lost series finale. Although we don't know what happened next or why Ben chose to sit out the final scene, it's a fitting, tearful end to a great series.

Sources

Lost Series Finale, ABC, May 23, 2010