Lost (season 4)

Lost (season 4)

DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 14
Release
Original network ABC
Original release January 31 (2008-01-31) – May 29, 2008 (2008-05-29)
Season chronology

The fourth season of the American serial drama television series Lost commenced airing on the American Broadcasting Company Network in the United States,[1] and on CTV in Canada on January 31, 2008, and concluded on May 29, 2008. The season continues the stories of a group of over 40 people who have been stranded on a remote island in the South Pacific, after their airplane crashed there more than 90 days prior to the beginning of the season. According to Lost's executive producers/writers/showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, there are two main themes in the fourth season: "the castaways' relationship to the freighter folk"[2] and "who gets off the island and the fact that they need to get back".[3] The fourth season was acclaimed for its flash-forwards, pace and new characters.[4]

The season was originally planned to contain 16 episodes; eight were filmed before the start of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.[5] Following the strike's resolution, it was announced that only five more episodes would be produced to complete the season;[6] however, the season finale's script was so long that network executives approved the production of a 14th episode as part of a three-hour season finale split over two nights.[7] The fourth season aired Thursdays at 9:00 pm from January 31 to March 20, 2008, and at 10:00 pm from April 24 to May 15, 2008. The two-hour finale aired at 9:00 pm on May 29, 2008. Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the season on DVD and Blu-ray Disc under the title Lost: The Complete Fourth Season – The Expanded Experience on December 9, 2008, in Region 1;[8] however, it was released earlier—on October 20, 2008—in Region 2.[9]

Crew

The fourth season was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Robot Productions and Grass Skirt Productions. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse served as the season's show runners.[10] The show was primarily filmed in Hawaii with post-production in Los Angeles.[11] Lindelof and Cuse's fellow executive producers were co-creator J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Jack Bender. The staff writers were Lindelof, Cuse, co-executive producers Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, and Drew Goddard, supervising producer Elizabeth Sarnoff, co-producer Brian K. Vaughan and executive story editor Christina M. Kim. The regular directors were Bender and co-executive producer Stephen Williams.[12]

Cast

The fourth season featured 16 major roles with star billing. The show continues to chronicle the lives of the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815, including their interactions with the island's original inhabitants, whom they refer to as "the Others", and an inauspicious team from a nearby freighter. Matthew Fox stars as Dr. Jack Shephard, the leader of the castaways. Jorge Garcia plays unlucky millionaire and mentally unstable Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, one of Jack's fellow survivors of 815. Elizabeth Mitchell portrays fertility specialist Juliet Burke, a woman recruited by the Others who joins the 815 survivors in the third season and becomes involved in a love square with Jack, Kate and Sawyer. Evangeline Lilly stars as fugitive Kate Austen. Jeremy Davies plays Daniel Faraday, a socially awkward physicist from the freighter. Terry O'Quinn plays John Locke, an 815 survivor with a deep connection to the island. Josh Holloway portrays the sardonic 815 survivor James "Sawyer" Ford. Naveen Andrews acts as 815 survivor Sayid Jarrah, a former soldier of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Emilie de Ravin portrays single new mother Claire Littleton of Flight 815. Michael Emerson acts as Ben Linus, the leader of the Others. Rebecca Mader acts as anthropologist Charlotte Lewis from the freighter. Daniel Dae Kim plays the non-English speaking Jin Kwon and Yunjin Kim plays his pregnant wife Sun. Henry Ian Cusick plays Desmond Hume, a man who has been living on the island for three years and who has developed the ability to time travel, though this is beyond his control. Ken Leung portrays Miles Straume, an arrogant medium from the freighter. Harold Perrineau acts as Flight 815 survivor Michael Dawson, who returns aboard the freighter undercover for Ben as a deckhand, after escaping the island in Season 2.

From left to right: Sawyer, Sun, Jin, Claire, Ben, Jack, Kate, Desmond, Sayid, Hurley, Locke, Michael, and Juliet

The show regularly features guest stars. Jeff Fahey plays the freighter's helicopter pilot Frank Lapidus, while Kevin Durand acts as Martin Keamy, the sinister leader of a group of mercenaries from the freighter that included Anthony Azizi's character Omar. L. Scott Caldwell and Sam Anderson return as 815 married couple Rose Henderson and Bernard Nadler. John Terry appears as Jack and Claire's deceased father Christian Shephard. Marsha Thomason returns as Naomi Dorrit, the first person from the freighter to appear on the island and Marc Vann plays Ray, the ship's doctor. Alan Dale acts as Charles Widmore, the man responsible for sending the freighter to the island. Mira Furlan portrays Danielle Rousseau, a marooned island inhabitant of sixteen years, who is reunited with her sixteen-year-old daughter, Alex, played by Tania Raymonde; Blake Bashoff plays Alex's boyfriend Karl. Nestor Carbonell is Richard Alpert, the ranking Other while Ben is held in captivity. Grant Bowler acts as Gault, the captain of the freighter, Kahana. Fisher Stevens and Zoë Bell play George Minkowski and Regina, two crew members involved with communications. Lance Reddick's character Matthew Abaddon is introduced as a mysterious man with connections to Naomi, Hurley and Locke.

Former regular cast members return for guest spots. Malcolm David Kelley reprises the role of Walt Lloyd, Michael's son, in both flashbacks and flashforwards. Dominic Monaghan and Cynthia Watros appear in hallucinations as deceased survivors Charlie Pace and Libby.

Reception

Critical reception

"With … a clear finish line in 2010, the creative team could now focus on telling their story without having to worry about how many episodes they had left to work with. Season four is the first to benefit and delivers a faster paced and leaner story that expands the Lost universe in some unexpected ways and delves into the mystery that was introduced at the end of last season."

— Reviews website IGN[13]

Time named Lost the seventh best television series of 2008 and praised the fourth season for "complicat[ing] [Lost's] time-and-space-travel story deliciously".[14] Don Williams of BuddyTV dubbed "The Beginning of the End" "the most anticipated season premiere of the year"[15] and Michael Ausiello later called the final hour of Lost's fourth season "the most anticipated 60 minutes of television all year."[16] American critics were sent screener DVDs of "The Beginning of the End" and "Confirmed Dead" on January 28, 2008.[17] Metacritic gave the season a Metascore—a weighted average based on the impressions of a select twelve critical reviews—of 87,[18] earning the second highest Metascore in the 2007–2008 television season after the fifth and final season of HBO's The Wire.[19] In a survey conducted by TVWeek of professional critics, Lost was voted the best show on television in the first half of 2008 "by a wide margin", apparently "crack[ing] the top five on nearly every critic's submission" and receiving "nothing but praise".[20] The May 7, 2007 announcement of a 2010 series end date and the introduction of flashforwards were received favorably by critics,[21] as were the season's new characters.[22]

Awards and nominations

The fourth season was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, with won one, for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour). The series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, its second nomination in that category since the first season, while Michael Emerson received his second consecutive nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. It also received nominations for Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series, Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score), Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series.[23]

The season earned Lost two Television Critics Association Award nominations for "Program of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Drama".[24] The season also was nominated for a 2008 Writers Guild of America Award in the category of Dramatic Series.[25]

Ratings

Throughout the fourth season, Lost continued to slip in the ratings. The season premiered with 16 million American viewers, giving Lost its highest ratings in 17 episodes; however, the size of the audience steadily decreased throughout the season. The eighth episode, which served as the mid-season finale as a result of the writers' strike, brought in 11 million,[26] setting a new series low.[27] The next episode and midseason premiere climbed slightly to 12 million,[28] but the episode after that set the current record for lowest-rated episode in the United States with 11 million people watching.[29] The finale was seen by 12 million, reaching the most viewers since the midseason premiere and making it Lost's lowest-rated finale yet.[30] Despite the decline in viewers, Lost consistently ranked within the top 20 programs of the week with one exception. The finale topped the chart, due to its broadcast being over a week after the official end of the television season. Entertainment president Stephen McPherson commented that while he would "love to see the show grow … the reality is that the numbers are pretty good."[26]

Episodes

The number in the "No. in series" column refers to the episode's number within the overall series, whereas the number in the "No. in season" column refers to the episode's number within this particular season. "Featured character(s)" refers to the character(s) who is centered on in the episode's flashbacks or flashforwards. "U.S. viewers (million)" refers to the number of Americans in millions who watched the episode as it was aired. A clip-show recapping the first three seasons titled "Lost: Past, Present & Future" preceded the season premiere episode.[31]

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byFeatured character(s)Original air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
731"The Beginning of the End"Jack BenderDamon Lindelof & Carlton CuseHurleyJanuary 31, 2008 (2008-01-31)16.07[32]
Upon learning that Penny did not send the freighter, the survivors of 815 split into two groups led by Jack and Locke. Meanwhile, Hurley and Claire struggle with the news of Charlie's death. In flashforwards, Hurley is revealed to be one of the "Oceanic Six"—a group of six survivors, including Jack and Kate, of the crash of 815 who have escaped the island.
742"Confirmed Dead"Stephen WilliamsDrew Goddard & Brian K. VaughanFaraday, Charlotte,
Miles, Frank, Naomi		February 7, 2008 (2008-02-07)15.06[33]
A science team from the freighter flown via helicopter by pilot Frank arrives on the island. A single flashback for each of the freighter crew members introduces their backstories. The episode's final flashback focuses on the late Naomi, who meets with Abaddon to discuss the science team and pilot. The team consists of Daniel, a physicist; Miles, a medium; and Charlotte, an anthropologist.
753"The Economist"Jack BenderEdward Kitsis & Adam HorowitzSayidFebruary 14, 2008 (2008-02-14)13.62[34]
Sayid makes a deal with Frank to leave the island, in exchange for freeing Charlotte. Sayid holds up his end of the deal; however, he obtains Charlotte by trading her for Miles. Frank, Sayid, and Desmond leave the island for the freighter by helicopter. In flashforwards, Sayid works as an assassin for Ben.
764"Eggtown"Stephen WilliamsElizabeth Sarnoff & Greggory NationsKateFebruary 21, 2008 (2008-02-21)13.53[35]
Kate goes on a quest to get information from Miles, which leads to her banishment from Locke's group. In flashforwards, Kate goes on trial for her numerous past crimes.
775"The Constant"Jack BenderCarlton Cuse & Damon LindelofDesmondFebruary 28, 2008 (2008-02-28)12.85[36]
Upon arriving on the freighter, Desmond gains his 1996 consciousness and time travels between 2004 and 1996. In 1996, he finds Daniel, who explains to him that he needs to find something or someone familiar in both times to stop his life-threatening time traveling. In 1996, he locates Penny; in 2004, he contacts Penny.
786"The Other Woman"Eric LaneuvilleDrew Goddard & Christina M. KimJulietMarch 6, 2008 (2008-03-06)12.90[37]
Juliet and Jack pursue Daniel and Charlotte, after they leave without notice for the Dharma electrical station, where they render a deadly gas inert. Meanwhile, Ben, who is being held captive by Locke, tells Locke about Widmore. Flashbacks show Juliet's relationships with Ben, her lover Goodwin and his wife Harper.
797"Ji Yeon"Stephen SemelEdward Kitsis & Adam HorowitzSun & JinMarch 13, 2008 (2008-03-13)11.87[38]
When Jin and Sun decide to join Locke's group, Juliet informs Jin of Sun's affair. On the freighter, Desmond and Sayid meet Gault, who offers more details on the fake wreckage of 815 previously mentioned by Naomi. Flashbacks show Jin on a maternal mission, while flashforwards show Sun giving birth.
808"Meet Kevin Johnson"Stephen WilliamsElizabeth Sarnoff & Brian K. VaughanMichaelMarch 20, 2008 (2008-03-20)11.28[39]
Sayid and Desmond confront Ben's spy on the freighter: Michael. Flashbacks show how Michael got from New York to the freighter, including his suicide attempts and deal with the Others. Ben sends Alex, accompanied by Karl and Danielle, to a Temple on the island where they will supposedly be safe, but they are attacked on the way, and Karl and Danielle are killed.
819"The Shape of Things to Come"Jack BenderBrian K. Vaughan & Drew GoddardBenApril 24, 2008 (2008-04-24)12.33[28]
A team of mercenaries from the freighter attacks Locke's group at the barracks. The leader of the team, Keamy, takes Alex hostage and eventually kills her. In flashforwards, Ben recruits Sayid as his assassin and confronts Widmore.
8210"Something Nice Back Home"Stephen WilliamsEdward Kitsis & Adam HorowitzJackMay 1, 2008 (2008-05-01)11.14[29]
Sawyer, Miles, and Claire make their way back to the beach camp from the Barracks, but Claire disappears in the night with her deceased father. Meanwhile, Jack falls ill with appendicitis and the survivors work together to save him. In flashforwards, Jack's life begins to fall apart as he starts taking pills and his relationship with Kate becomes strained.
8311"Cabin Fever"Paul EdwardsElizabeth Sarnoff & Kyle PenningtonLockeMay 8, 2008 (2008-05-08)11.28[40]
Locke, Ben, and Hurley journey to Jacob's cabin, where Locke is informed that they have to move the Island. After returning to the freighter, the mercenaries stage a mutiny. In flashbacks, Locke is shown to have been visited by Richard Alpert many times throughout his life.
8412"There's No Place Like Home (Part 1)"Stephen WilliamsDamon Lindelof & Carlton CuseJack, Hurley, Sayid,
Sun, Kate		May 15, 2008 (2008-05-15)11.40[41]
Six of the survivors are taken to the freighter and explosives are discovered on board. Meanwhile, Ben surrenders to the mercenaries and Kate and Sayid meet the Others in the forest. Flashforwards show the Oceanic Six's first actions after returning home.
85
86		13
14		"There's No Place Like Home (Part 2)"Jack BenderCarlton Cuse & Damon LindelofJack, Hurley, Sayid,
Sun, Kate		May 29, 2008 (2008-05-29)12.20[42]
After Kate, Sayid and the Others free Ben and kill the mercenaries, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, Sun, Aaron, Desmond and Frank are rescued by Penny after Ben and Locke succeed in moving the island and the freighter explodes. In flashforwards, the Oceanic Six and Walt react to visits from Locke.

Home media release

Lost: The Complete Fourth Season – The Expanded Experience
Set details Special features
  • 14 episodes
  • 6-disc set/5 Blu-ray Discs
  • 1.78:1 aspect ratio
  • Subtitles: English
  • English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround) – DVD
  • English (PCM 5.1 Surround) – Blu-ray
  • Audio commentaries
    • "The Beginning of the End" by Evangeline Lilly and Jorge Garcia
    • "The Constant" by Mark Goldman, Damon Lindelof, and Carlton Cuse
    • "Ji Yeon" by Stephen Semel, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim
    • "There's No Place Like Home (Part 2)" by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
  • "The Right to Bear Arms"
  • "The Freighter Folk"
  • "The Island Backlot: Lost in Hawaii"
  • "The Oceanic Six: A Conspiracy of Lies"
  • "Offshore Shoot"
  • "Soundtrack of Survival: Composing for Character, Conflict & Crash"
  • "Lost on Location"
  • "Course of the Future: The Definitive Flash-Forwards"
  • "Lost: Missing Pieces"
  • Deleted scenes
  • Bloopers
  • Easter Eggs
Release dates
 Brazil  United States
 Canada		  Australia  Japan  United Kingdom
September 24, 2008 December 9, 2008 October 29, 2008 January 21, 2009 October 20, 2008

References

  1. ↑ "Fourteen Early Pick-Ups Announced for the 2007–08 Season" (Press release). ABC. March 21, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  2. ↑ Jensen, Jeff "Doc" (February 20, 2008). "Lost: Mind-Blowing Scoop From Its Producers". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  3. ↑ Albiniak, Paige (February 24, 2008). "Ten Reasons Why Lost is Found". New York Post. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
  4. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (January 29, 2008). "Lost's Fab Start to Season 4, and a Chat with Co-Creator Damon Lindelof". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Lost Writers: 'Like Putting Down a Harry Potter Book in the Middle'". Variety. November 5, 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  6. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (February 13, 2008). "Exclusive: Lost Boss Outlines Revised Season 4 Plan". TV Guide. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  7. ↑ Dos Santos, Kristin (April 11, 2008). "Exclusive! Three-Hour Lost Season Finale Over Two Nights". E! Online. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ Lambert, David (April 22, 2008). "Get Lost Again this December". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Lost - Season 4". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  10. ↑ Keller, Joel (January 15, 2007). "ABC's Show Runners Talk About Pitching, Network Notes, and Internet Scrutiny". Aol TV. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  11. ↑ Brislin, Tom (January 25, 2007). "UH Academy for Creative Media, Lost, Create Student Internship Program". University of Hawaii. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  12. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 12, 2007). "Williams to stay Lost at ABC Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  13. ↑ Carabott, Chris (June 6, 2008). "Lost: Season 4 Review". IGN. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  14. ↑ Poniewozik, James (November 3, 2008). "Top 10 TV Series of 2008". Time. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  15. ↑ Williams, Don, (January 31, 2008). "Lost: Episode 4.1 'The Beginning of the End' Live Thoughts". BuddyTV. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (April 11, 2008). "It's Official: Lost Finds Extra Hour… But There's a Twist!". TV Guide. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  17. ↑ Goodman, Tim (January 30, 2008). "Want to Get Lost? There's Still Time as Season Starts". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Lost: Season 4". Metacritic. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  19. ↑ "The Wire: Season 5". Metacritic. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  20. ↑ Krukowski, Andrew (July 6, 2008). "Favorites Hold Fast". TVWeek. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Lost to Conclude in 2009–10 Television Season" (Press release). ABC. May 7, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  22. ↑ Lachonis, Jon "DocArzt" (February 13, 2008). "Rebecca Mader Lost Interview". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  23. ↑ "Lost". Emmys.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  24. ↑ Sassone, Bob (June 3, 2008). "2008 Television Critics Association Awards nominees announced". Aol TV. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  25. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 8, 2008). "TV trio rack up WGA nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  26. 1 2 Jensen, Jeff "Doc" (April 10, 2008). "Secrets from the Set!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  27. ↑ Williams, Don (March 24, 2008). "Lost Season 4 Suffers Ratings Decline". BuddyTV. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  28. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (April 25, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Thur, Apr 24: New CSI and Grey's Are Back, and Down Over Last Year". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  29. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (May 2, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for May 1: Where Are The TV Viewers Going?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  30. ↑ Hibberd, James (June 3, 2008). "ABC's Lost Puts on a Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  31. ↑ "A Look Over the Past Three Seasons will Attempt to Shed Some Light on Where the Survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are and if Rescue Truly is at Hand" (Press release). ABC. January 14, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  32. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 1, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings - Jan 31, 2008: ABC Gets LOST". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  33. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 7, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Thursday, Feb 7: Lipstick Jungle? Get Lost!". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  34. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 15, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Thur, Feb 14: Lost & Survivor". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  35. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Thur Feb 21: Can FOX Be Stopped?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  36. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 29, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Thur, Feb 28: FOX Cannot Be Stopped". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  37. ↑ Gorman, Bill (March 7, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Thur, Mar 6: Fox Youth Wins, Age Loses". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  38. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 14, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Thur, Mar 13: CBS Pulls in a Win, Lost Rules 9pm". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  39. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 21, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Thu, Mar 20: NCAA No Deal for CBS?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  40. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 9, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 8, 2008: Trouble in Shonda-land?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  41. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 16, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 15, 2008: More Trouble for Shonda and CSI". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  42. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 30, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 29, 2008: LOST Season Finale Wins For ABC". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2012.

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