Plot Synopsis

LOST is a series that uses flash-forwards, flashbacks, parallel universes, and time travel to help tell an intricate story that spans many decades. At the heart of this story, there are three central themes -- free will versus determinism, faith versus science and life and death. The series starts as Oceanic Flight 815 crashes in the waters just off the coast of a Pacific island, and its passengers are forced into survival mode as they hope to find a way back to civilization. Not only must they brave the elements, but they must also survive the mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, a strange French woman and "The Others." The group also discovers some of the island's history as it finds a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock, the remains of a three-toed statue, and work stations belonging to the Dharma Initiative. After investigating and ultimately destroying one of these stations, the group learns more about the Dharma Initiative, the Hanso Foundation, and why their plane crashed. As the days pass, tension continues to mount -- between the crash survivors and The Others as well as within the group of survivors since some want to leave the island while others want to stay. This struggle amongst the survivors comes to a head when a tanker appears off the coast, giving some renewed hope that they'll be rescued while others are concerned that their lives will be destroyed. Only six of the survivors escape the island. The Oceanic Six return to civilization and attempt to lead normal lives even though they must lie about their time on the island. After three years of life on the mainland, five of the Oceanic Six are drawn together and return to the island to save those left behind. Except the return trip isn't what they expected -- four travel back in time to 1977 while one remains in the present. After detonating a bomb in 1977, these four people return to present day.