Blu-Ray Review: Lost - The Complete Sixth Season

Release Date: August 24th, 2010
Running Time: 802 minutes

The Show

Lost was one of the most groundbreaking television shows in recent memory. It took chances with a complicated sci-fi plot that brought up questions on a weekly basis, a mystery lasting six seasons, and a new format embracing flashbacks, flashforwards, and flashsideways. None of this would have worked, however, without the fact that it had some of the best drama written on television. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Lost: The Complete Sixth Season is a fitting end to the series both as a piece of groundbreaking drama and as one of the highest-quality shows on Blu-ray.

Season Five, with its time travel, finally declared that Lost was a science fiction show. The crux of the final season focused on something completely new. Rather than having flashbacks or flashforwards, we were given “flashsideways,” aka an alternate reality. It seems like the detonation of the nuclear bomb in the Season Five finale created an alternate universe where Oceanic Flight 815 never crashed. We get to experience our favorite characters playing out their lives in new and exciting ways along with revisiting characters long gone. However, as the characters in this universe begin to “awaken,” we ultimately find out that the truth of this alternate universe is something far different.

The main island storyline finds our heroes out of 1977 Dharma time and back in the present. An iconic battle of good versus evil has been brewing for years, and this season is where it explodes. The Smoke Monster, now in the form of John Locke, is recruiting various islanders to his ultimate goal: escaping the island. Meanwhile Jack, now the man of faith, is recruiting people to do everything in their power to stop Smokey from escaping. Everyone has to choose a side, but the question remains: who is actually good and who is actually evil? How will it all play out? The two forces are on an inevitable crash that has plenty of death and gut-wrenching moments are our heroes are dragged through the ringer one final time.

For me, the final season was awesome on a weekly basis. Conflicts were brought to fruition that had been festering for years. Characters uncovered truths and had reunions that we had been patiently waiting for. Most importantly, many of the show’s pivotal questions were finally answered. We learn about the concept of “Candidates” and why our heroes are important. We learn about the back story of Jacob and the Man in Black. Richard’s immortality is explained. Desmond’s true purpose is revealed. We finally get to see the Temple. However, just as many new questions are brought up, a fact that annoyed many diehards.

The finale could not have been more controversial. It was far too esoteric for many people who simply wanted definitive answers. Those people need to take a step back and realize that those answers aren’t what are important. This is a show about characters. We have lived and died with this tight group of heroes for six years. They have become like family for people. In that respect, where the characters end up after all of this is one of the most emotional pieces of television I have ever seen. The final shot of the series could not be more perfect. I applaud the creators for sticking to their guns and ending the series how they always envisioned.

The five-disc set contains all 16 episodes from the final season: “LA X,” “What Kate Does,” “The Substitute,” “Lighthouse,” “Sundown,” “Dr. Linus,” “Recon,” “Ab Aeterno,” “The Package,” “Happily Ever After,” “Everybody Loves Hugo,” “The Last Recruit,” “The Candidate,” “Across the Sea,” “What They Died For,” and “The End.”

The Discs

The video is presented in a 1.78:1, 1080p high Definition transfer. This is, simply put, the best TV Blu-ray transfer I have seen. Colors are gorgeous and natural—the island has never looked so beautiful. Black levels are as deep as they come and don’t crush detail. Fine detail in the close-up shots is amazing and truly shows the wear and tear on the characters. Wide shots are pristine as well, showing off the intricate detail in the ambitious set design. Video noise, compression artifacts, color banding—none of these are problems. Lastly, a small layer of film grain gives the show a classic feel.

The audio is offered in an English DTS HD 5.1 master lossless audio track and English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The mix is near theatrical in quality. Ambience is omnipresent, bringing the jungle to life, enhancing the dharma technology, and creating a city atmosphere for the flash sideways. The action-heavy series features a slew of panning effects, most notably the smoke monster as it rips across the speakers. Bass will rattle your soul as the smoke monster roars, and the numerous gunshots and explosions have a consistent, intense power. The iconic music has deep bass hits and crisp highs as well. Despite the ruckus, the dialogue is always balanced.

The Extras

The final season set continues the Lost tradition of amazing extra content.

Four Commentaries are offered: “LA X” with Executive Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse; “Dr. Linus” with Michael Emerson and Writers Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz; “Ab Aeterno” with Nestor Carbonell and Writers Melinda Hsu Taylor and Gregory Nations; and “Across the Sea” with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. The character-centric Ben and Richard episode discussions are amazing, but I found “Across the Sea” to be the most interesting. If you pay close attention you can surmise some answers to questions brought about from the controversial episode. Overall all of the speakers are passionate about the show, making for riveting discussion.

“The New Man in Charge” (12 minutes) is the much-publicized epilogue to the series that focuses on Hurley and Ben running the island. Without spoiling anything, I can say that a few lingering questions are answered in this nice little coda to the series.

In lieu of a commentary for “The End” we got a 38-minute documentary called “Crafting a Final Season.” The comprehensive piece contains a slew of interviews with the cast and crew discussing the final season as a whole and especially the last episode. They speak with a retrospective passion about their love for the series, and how important it was hitting all the right notes for the finale. While it may not be as scene-specific as a commentary, I felt like it was a proper tribute to the final episode.

“A Hero’s Journey” (9 minutes) discusses key characters from the series in respect to Joseph Campbell’s heroic, universal templates that can be traced back throughout literature and film.

“See You In Another Life, Brotha” (8 minutes) focuses on the flash sideways and the parallel stories, pointing out episode references, seeing old faces again, and much more. It is a fun segment, but ultimately it is too short to truly get in-depth.

Like the previous sets, the “On Location” section (29 minutes total) contains episode-specific discussion and behind-the-scenes footage for: “LA X,” “The Substitute,” “Recon,” “Ab Aeterno,” “Happily Ever After” and “The Candidate.”

“Lost in 8:15” is a rapid-fire recap of the entire series.

9 Deleted Scenes run 14 minutes and a Blooper Reel runs 4 minutes.

Lastly, the set contains a “Master’s Level” of the “Lost University” accessed via BD-Live. Advanced classes break down the themes, science, and more behind the groundbreaking series.

Final Thoughts

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season is the pinnacle of television on Blu-ray. With a pristine technical showing and meaty special features, this set finishes off one of the strongest Blu-ray releases of any series.