When Lost first came out a few years ago, I missed it. Friends raved on about it and I didn't pay much attention, but when I finally got round to watching it...woah! Lost is one helluva show. It has the addictive element of 24, in that each show ends on some cliffhanger, but is perhaps more entertaining, as the characters are so diverse and varied. The premise of a plane crash on a tropical island, with the subsequent descent into savagery from some of the survivors, obviously draws on Lord of the Flies. The series progresses, however, through supernatural developments and various plot twists into something which can't be easily labelled. The love triangle between Kate, Jack and Sawyer is pure gold and exploited skilfully. The comedy of Hurley is later matched by similar gems of sarcasm from Miles. The mystery is only added to by Locke, Ben and the strangely non-ageing character of Richard. Ben's evil never fails to disappoint: just when you think he might be telling the truth again, he springs another surprise. The time travel element is pretty confusing, but definitely adds to the mix. Overall, Lost can't be pigeon-holed into any one genre, and that's probably why it is so fantastic.
